Pirelli concludes three year Formula 1 tyre supply agreement with FIA

Pirelli have renewed their Formula 1 contract and will remain the sport’s sole tyre supplier for the next three years, the Italian company and the FIA said in separate statements on Thursday.

The news was expected, with the governing FIA saying last October that the contract would continue through an undefined “transition period” before any eventual tender. Pirelli had talked then of a five-year deal.

Pirelli, whose tyres caused controversy last year when they had to be redesigned after a spate of blowouts, also announced changes to the sporting regulations that will allow them more testing time.

The new rules will mean one of the 12 days of official pre-season testing will have to be dedicated exclusively to wet tyre testing.

Malaysia, the second round of the season after the March 16 opener in Australia, regularly sees tropical downpours but teams have yet to test the 2014 tyres in wet conditions with the new cars.

Teams must also dedicate one of their eight days of in-season testing exclusively to tyre testing with Pirelli.

“This means that during each of the eight days of in-season testing, at least one team – and up to a maximum of two – will be concentrating on tyre testing along with Pirelli’s engineers,” the Pirelli statement said.

Pirelli voiced increasing frustration last year at the lack of testing opportunities, even going so far as to warn they could walk away if unable to try out their development tyres with representative cars.

The 2014 cars have a new V6 turbocharged engine with energy recovery systems, replacing the old V8s, that puts very different demands on tyres that early last season were criticised for excessive wear.

With engine reliability now a major concern for teams, the new tyres are expected to be more durable and consistent than previously.

The old rules allowed Pirelli to conduct a number of private tests but only with cars that were at least two years old. Their own test car was a 2010 Renault.

Mercedes were reprimanded last year for using their 2013 car and drivers in a ‘secret’ test with the supplier. (Reuters)

Full FIA Statement:

“Following a decision by the World Motor Sport Council confirming Pirelli’s status as the single supplier of tyres to the FIA Formula 1 World Championship, Pirelli and the FIA have renewed their Formula One tyre supply contract. The duration of the agreement is for three years, starting from the 2014 season.”

“The world motorsport’s governing body and Pirelli, in collaboration with the teams, have been working together to improve levels of safety and performance in Formula One, resulting in important changes to the FIA Formula One Sporting Regulations regarding the testing of tyres, which will enable the Italian company to continue its Formula One single supply arrangements in the best interests of the sport.”

“These new rules, mandatory from the 2014 season onwards, can be summarised as follows:

One of the 12 days of official pre-season testing, as prescribed in the 2014 sporting regulations, will be dedicated exclusively to wet tyre testing.

Each team will dedicate one of their eight days of in-season testing, as prescribed in the 2014 sporting regulations, exclusively to tyre testing. This means that during each of the eight days of in-season testing, at least one team – and up to a maximum of two – will be concentrating on tyre testing along with Pirelli’s engineers.

“Pirelli will continue to determine the specification of the tyres and to manage all aspects of their development, in close consultation with the FIA and the teams, and within the parameters set out in the FIA Formula One Sporting & Technical Regulations.”

“In addition, Pirelli and the FIA have agreed to discuss a possible partnership on the FIA Action for Road Safety campaign.”